Pierrot le Fou

This here episode utilises some of the best of Cowboy Bebop's elements and writing: mixing many different genres, using its occasionally stellar animation to create a fantastic atmosphere and suspense and the almost brilliant set-up of a seemingly unsolvable problem that turns out to not be as difficult as it seems, and in a way that makes sense. But the villain is the real star here: supposedly supernatural, seemingly unstoppable, completely demented and with almost no moral qualms to hold on: simply a killing machine. He is genuinely threatening and awesomely written. I think many modern horror movie or series creators can learn a thing or two from this one: no jump-scares, simply suspense, terror and near-complete lack of ideas for the hero's survival with a good hint of the unknown - the driving force of many horrors. Kudos to Shin'ichiro Watanabe and the production team for creating a timeless inspiration for multiple further artists.